Random Pic of today #2

I got home and Cookie was waiting at the gate for me. He looked so silly I could not resist snapping this picture.

Random Pic of the Day

Today's picture I actually took as I was driving to work this morning. I was heading west on Sunrise Hwy. in Babylon. And no I did not stop at McDonald's.

Totally Random Picture

I have enjoyed working within Dena's "Daily Themes" but, I am totally random as to what days I play along. So that gave me the idea for a new theme. "Random Pic for the day" The idea is simple. Just take a picture of something totally random of something you encounter or do that day. No matter how silly or trivial. Then simply post it. I have a camera in my cell phone and always have my phone on me. It's easy to send the pics to email.

I would love to say I am going to post one every day at a certain time but, in keeping with the theme, when I post is going to be totally random. Now go have fun. Below you will see my random pic for the day.



I stop every day on my way back to the office to grab a cup of coffee!

Attention Sally! Here is the proof!

Sally, you left a comment about squirrels on my last post and then I found this as I was scanning the world news sources and came across this in the BBC News. So, here is all the proof you need! lmao


Woman called Nutt over-run by squirrels

Grey squirrel
The squirrels have been chewing through the roof

A woman in Northern Ireland says her home has been over-run by grey squirrels.

Oonagh Nutt, from Moira in County Down, says the animals first came into her garden from an adjoining park six years ago, but in the last 18 months they got too close for comfort.

"I thought it was lovely, I called one of them Hazel but then the next thing they'd got into the house," she said.

Mrs Nutt says the squirrels have caused serious damage: "They chewed their way through my roof in several places, they tunnel through the cavity walls, they live under the floor boards, they go to the toilet in the attic.


FROM BBC RADIO ULSTER

"Up close they are quite frightening - they look like puppy dogs with big hands, they growl and bark at you, they're vicious things. They'll go for you.

"I have a small child in the house and regularly at night the scratching and chewing and moving about will wake him up."

Mrs Nutt says she's spent thousands of pounds trying to tackle the problem.

"I've had pest control round putting poison down in the roof space and travel routes through the house. But then they died inside the cavity walls and the house is infested with flies. It's a nightmare.

"We've had squirrel catchers, traps, lights, sonar. Everything but the kitchen sink."

Mrs Nutt is unhappy with the attitude of her local council to the pest problem.

"I rang Lisburn City Council three times and have been told in short to go away. They say they're not a pest so there's nothing they can do."

Ian Woods from Grey Squirrel Control says it's an increasingly common story.

"Every year it's becoming more and more of a problem around this time of year. People really don't understand the damage they cause."

Lisburn City Council said any resident who experiences a pest problem should contact its pest control unit on (028) 9250 9417.

Trapped!

Before I get into this story, let me point out that the only reason I am telling anyone is to beat Dena to it. She has been waiting for a chance to pay me back for a number of things. And while I probably deserve it, I am not about to let her have the satisfaction.

I have been doing some renovation work to spruce up the interior of my house lately. I used to be a contractor so tackling home improvements has never been a daunting task for me. Well I guess I have been out of the business for too long.

Saturday I donned my tool belt, dragged out the tools, and decided to relocate the pull-down attic stairs. Anyone that has ever installed them can tell you that they can be heavy and are a bit of a pain to install. I cut the ceiling joists and added the headers where they were needed. I have installed these types of stairs before so I knew what I was doing. I nailed two boards across the underside of the opening, climbed into the attic, dropped the stairs into the opening, squared everything off, and nailed it all in place.

When I finished, I thought, "Wow that went faster then I remember." As I sat there a sudden realization came over me. How do I get out? I had forgotten that I needed someone on the underside to remove the boards and there was no one home. The hole where the stairs used to be was still there but, since they were over the stairs down to the first floor, it would have been a good 16 foot drop and I would have landed on the stairs. Not an option. I like my ankles in one piece.

I sat there thinking for a bit. I figured, "Okay, I will just call my wife and see how long it will be before she gets home." I had my cell phone on me so I dialed her number. "Oh good it's ringing." As I listened to the ringing of her phone, I noticed that I could also hear it ringing in the house. Apparently she forgot her phone. "Damn!" Well, I knew she had to come back eventually. I spent the time looking around at all the crap I have in my attic and noticing the big hole the squirrels had chewed in the fascia board and the lovely nest they now had inside my house. "Are those eyes staring at me from under that insulation?" "What was that noise?!" "Boy it sure is taking my wife forever to get home!"

I decided I needed a distraction from the fear of what I imagined would be a horrible death by killer squirrels. I would be stuck up there trying to fend off these evil grey furry creatures that were running at me shaking their nuts. (Acorns you perv!) Anyway, what better person to help me through this terrible time then my friend Dena. She would certainly feel bad for me and offer me that comforting shoulder....yeah, not so much. At least one of us saw humor in this. She of course just had to ask for a picture of me trapped so that she could share this with Josh. And who am I to deny them a good laugh? So I sent it. (See below). Dena if you are ever trapped someplace you better believe I want pictures!

I did eventually make it out of the attic. About half an hour after first realizing I was trapped, my son Tyler came home. After convincing him that he was not going to fall 24 inches off the ladder and die, he removed the boards for me and I was able to open the stairs and get down. I took yesterday off from any type of home repair, but rest assured, next weekend I will be back at it. After all, I have to climb up on the roof to fix the hole to keep the squirrels out. I sure hope I dont get stuck on the roof!.....tm

Music 4 My Monday

I heard this song for the first time the other day and immediately thought about a few people in my life that always are looking at life and wondering when things will get better. The video below is not the video seen on the country stations but, the song is worth listening to. So today's pick is dedicated to all of you out there that need to stop and rethink how you look at life........tm

Favorite 4 My Friday

Since the temps are finally expected to be in the 50's I figured it is a good day to mention one of my favorite activities. I have several, but this is among my faves. When I was younger I thought golf was one of the stupidest games ever invented. My first job was when I was 14 and I spent the summer pulling weeds out of sand traps, mowing lawns, and watering the greens at a county owned course. I could have played for free then.

About 10 years ago I became part of a job related organization. One of the things we do is a golf outing fund raiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital and other child related charities. I decided I would play. Despite almost killing people with wayward tee shots at the local driving range. I made a joke about only being able to play golf if I have to hit the ball past a windmill or into a clown's mouth. I was actually quite relieved when I arrived at the course to find that along the side of the fairway on hole #1, there was indeed a windmill.

Since that day, I have played every year. I now play other times as well. In fact one of the best parts of traveling for work, is playing golf in whatever outing the ICC has planned for us that year. I have lost golf balls in some of the nicest parts of the country. Places like Utah, Nevada, Florida, and Minnesota. In 2011 I will be in Alaska for the conference. Since it takes place in November, it should be interesting trying to play golf there.

I do have one more place that I am really looking forward to playing. I promised a certain young man in the midwest that when I visit, I would take him out for 18 holes. He will probably whip my butt, but I will give it my best shot to at least not lose more balls than he does. We will see........tm

A Trip to Costco (This was too funny not to share)

A TRIP TO COSTCO

Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Tootsie, the Wonder Dog and was in the checkout line when woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had, an elephant? So since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.) Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's ass and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Costco won't let me shop there anymore.

Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.

Thought 4 My Thursday

What About Me 4 My Wednesday

I am a very sentimental person. If I have a special bond with someone, family or friends, I save everything I possibly can that has to do with that person. It is worst with things from my kids. I have every single program from concerts they were in and all the little gifts they have given me over the years. Everything from key chains to hand drawn pictures. I keep them all tucked neatly away in a drawer in my workshop.

It is not just limited to my children though. I still have old letters from my wife and letters from another ex of mine. I also have every single thing ever sent to me from another friend. Every email, every card, and even some old voice mails.

I know that none of it will be worth anything to anyone else, but to me every single thing I save is a treasure. And every single item holds a memory that makes me smile and warms my heart. So in the meantime I will continue to be a pack rat and collect my memories........tm

Bug's logical conclusion

Today is my oldest son's 17th birthday. Hard to believe I am old enough to have a kid that age but, then Dena has 2 even older and she is younger than me. Anyway, I asked my daughter if she remembered to wish her brother a "Happy Birthday?" She responded that she didn't. I figured no big deal she would do it later. As I was driving her to her cousin's house I commented on how cold it was for this time of year. After all, it is Spring and yet the temp is only in the low 20's. I then told her that it was not unheard of though since 17 years ago it had snowed a day before Kevin was born. I saw the look on her face that tells me the little light in her brain clicked on and she suddenly had a revelation. She looked at me and said, "Wow! Kevin was actually born on his birthday!" Then she realized that she too was born on her birthday. Imagine that!

I don't know why she never got the whole concept before but, rest assured if she ever knows it is YOUR birthday, she is going to know what your mom was doing on that day!

Family -vs- Family

My wife was out getting her nails done this morning. She goes to a shop owned by my brother's wife. Usually it turns into the time that my wife and sister-in-law sit and compare horror stories of the married life. Many times my wife will come home and tell a story or two to me about things I could really do without knowing. Today is no exception.

I probably should not get into the details here in a blog. However I find myself in a dillema. My wife told me something that will have a major impact on my brother, but then follows up with, "You can't say anything to him." Obviously it would have been better if she just had not told me to begin with, but it's too late now.

So here I sit trying to decide what to do. Do I betray my wife and tell my brother what I know? Or do I betray my brother and keep the secret from him. He will find out soon enough, but I feel bad that he is going to be blindsided. And he could turn things around with the right information. Yet if I tell him and it gets out that I did, I am going to be sleeping on the couch for some time to come.

So let's hear your opinion. What would you do?

Thought 4 My Thursday

If you spend all your time looking back at yesterday
You are destined to trip over tomorrow.......tm

What are you.......?

Reluctantly as I got dressed this morning, I put on a green shirt. I knew if I did not wear some sort of green that I would hear it all day. After all, my last name is Irish. Even though I have more Finnish in me. Not sure how that works. I am pretty sure the amount of a certain nationality you have in you is proportionate to how long ago those particular ancestors immigrated. Although, I do have American Indian ancestry and they were here first. I am not going to even get into how another of my ancestors contributed to the downfall of the Indians. Read up on William Cody a/k/a Buffalo Bill and you will see how that happened. (Yes Buffalo Bill was a real person and yes I really am related).

Anyway the original point of this was not to shake the nuts out of my family tree. I sit back and watch people all the time ask, "What are you?" And I see people answer that they are Italian or Irish or African American or whatever other country is out there. When they ask me I always tell them, "I am American." I was born here so what else would I be. Sure my distant relatives may have come from someplace else, but I was born in Micanopy FL. And according to the history books, FL was a US state in 1963.....I will give you a minute to do the math in your head......done? Did you come up with me turning 46 this year? Ok so back to what I was saying. I was born here. As were my parents and their parents. Before that we start having to deal with immigrants. In the meantime, I am 100% American and damn proud of it too! So are most of you!

So next time someone asks what you are, be proud and tell them the truth! Ok I am off to apologize to my mother's side of the family for forgetting to wear purple yesterday since in Finland it was Saint Urho's Day! (Google it)........tm

The rich get richer, while the poor get shafted.

We all are well aware of how bad the economy is. And by now everyone has heard of at least one story of of someone being taken advantage of. The latest story is really making my blood pressure sky rocket.

The executives at AIG are using the bailout money that our tax dollars is funding, to give themselves hefty bonuses and other perks. Why the hell do they honestly think they deserve a bonus? These are the same guys that were running the company when it started having troubles. I am not saying the situation is entirely their fault, but do they honestly believe they deserve a bonus? How can they even consider taking extras when the rest of us are struggling to survive?

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley suggested on Monday that AIG execs take a lesson from Japan and either resign or commit suicide. I think the latter may be a little extreme but, his point is well made. Stop screwing the rest of us. Stop taking more than what you deserve. Fix the damn company. If you can do that and make it a profitable venture again, feel free to take whatever bonus you want. You earned it then. Right now you are stealing the money that we the tax payers earned!

Hopefully President Obama sticks to his guns and finds a way to block these bastards from taking advantage of the American public. Not just at AIG, but in every single company that we are dumping money into to keep them from folding. Either that or I want to see my own personal economic bailout. I don't need billions. I could get by on about $100,000.....tm

Toon 4 my Tuesday

Music 4 My Monday

After much thought, I finally decided on a song for today. Several years back I was on a trip for business. During that time I found myself in a small town. One similar to what I described in a previous blog posting. While there, I bought the newest Tim McGraw CD and this song is on it. It just fit so well for that town. Enjoy......

PS- Yes Dena I know it is Tim. Please control yourself and wipe the drool off your chin.

Favorite 4 My Friday

Today I decided to show you my favorite car that I had owned. I have owned a 72 Dodge Polara, a 71 Chevy Impala, a 91 Mazda Pick up, and a 01 Hyundai Accent. But, the car I miss the most is my 1978 Chevy Camaro LT. It was fast and it just looked cool. I bought it in 1984 for $2500 and drove it until I bought the Mazda in 91. Oh the memories I have of that car and the places I went with it. I remember racing down the highway at speeds of over 110 mph with the stereo booming out the best 80s music! Even my dad used to love taking the car and racing it.

The picture above is what my car looked like. It was exactly the same except for the color. Mine was a light grey. Man I miss that car!

Thought 4 My Thursday

We all take different paths in life,
But no matter where we go
We take a part of each other
Everywhere.
~Tim McGraw~



This has to be one of the most powerful statements I have heard in my life. It really is so true. Take a minute and think back to all the people you have met in your life. Not just the ones you still talk to, but those long since forgotten. Who was your best friend in 1st grade? Maybe you played with them every single day but, life has sent you in different directions. Or maybe it was a teacher or a friend's mom. And then there are those you know yet maybe have never seen face-to-face. Every single person you had any type of relationship, has left you with a memory or a lesson learned. Many of them taught you something that you will never forget and still use to this day.

The reverse is also true. I bet right at this moment that someone someplace in the world is thinking about you. How can you not smile at that thought? You made a difference to them. You taught them something. You touched their heart.

So it really is true. We really do take a part of each other everywhere......tm

Shots fired

As I sit and write this, I am shaking. About 35 minutes ago I received a text message from my wife. All it says is, "I am under code red lock down. Shots fired." My wife works in a school. The school is for 9th graders only and is in what is known as a "rough area." Many of the kids in the school are involved in gang activity.

I responded to her message to ask if she is okay. I have yet to hear back. I was afraid to call her directly. All I need is for her to be hiding someplace and I give her away by ringing her phone.

Now, I am sure you are wondering why I am sitting writing this at this time. In my job I have access to certain info that is not made public right away. It appears that the shots were fired outside the school and not inside. So as a precaution the school goes into lock down to protect the student and staff inside. That has me feeling a little better about the situation. I am of course very concerned at not having heard anything back from her yet though.

If I find out that she was fine the entire time and had me scared out of my mind when I didn't need to be, you can be assured I may beat her to death with her own cell phone. She could have very easily added the line "I am okay!"

I will let you know how this turns out........tm

Music 4 My Monday

I have never been a huge Miley fan, but I have to say, I absolutely love her new song. The lyrics are powerful and her voice is awesome. Maybe it is just how much I can relate to the song. It is so true that no matter what, there are always going to be mountains to climb in life. It doesn't matter how fast you get there, just keep the faith and keep climbing. So sit back and enjoy this video.

Thought 4 My Thursday

This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint...it goes like this:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%


and


K-N-O-W-L- E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But ,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with ma thematical certainty, that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, its the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.

What About Me 4 My Wednesday

Hmmm.....in trying to keep within Dena's themes, this is the day I am supposed to talk about me.

It is a dream of mine to live an easier life. I don't mean I want to be rich. I don't need money to be happy. And while money is certainly an issue for us, it is not what I dream of. When I say I would like an easier life, I would love to move to a small town. Maybe own a farm and raise chickens. This is not to say that chicken farming is easy. I am sure it is not. But, the life style appeals to me.

I want a town where people stop to say hello. Where the neighbors still watch out for each other. Where Sunday's are spent in church in the morning and on a front porch in the afternoon. Where country music is the norm. A place where I can sit and chat with the farmers in the coffee shop. A place where kids are brought up respecting parents. Maybe rustic enough that there are still dirt roads on the outskirts of town. Where, Christmas is a time of pageants and church bake sales. Homecoming is a big deal and the town stands behind all the team at all the games. Where NASCAR is a reason to stay home on Sunday afternoon. Where NY Yankee hats are replaced by John Deere caps or cowboy hats. Pick up trucks out number cars and the movie theater still has only one screen. I want to be able to sit outside and see the stars in the sky instead of the glow of the lights at the malls. Where the local wildlife is deer and wolves. Where the cops sit in the diner because there is very little crime, not so they can avoid dealing with the crime that there is.

I know these towns still exist. I have seen it first hand. Of course the people there simply go about their business without ever stopping to realize what they have, but that's ok. They may even dream of someday living in a town like the one I do now. They say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. And yes it would appear greener on my side actually. But that is only because of the thousands of dollars people spend on fertilizers and sod. Give me the brownish green lawns and dirt roads of an American small town.........tm

Music 4 My Monday

Today's pick is another one that gives me that peaceful feeling. It is a song that I can think of a few people that will relate to it. Yes, Mr. Dena's Dad, you too. Enjoy...